These Four New Players Next Month Could Make All The Difference At Newcastle

Written by Dr. Ed Harrison

9:39am Monday, December 25th, 2017

Commented 36 times

Christmas is here, so there are 7 days to go until the January transfer window opens next Monday.

But we don’t expect any quick deals to be made by Newcastle with Rafa still not knowing precisely the funds he will be given to spend next month.

That’s the latest news in any case.

We need to bring in a left back, two strikers and add some toughness and some creativity in central midfield.

So given that, here are four players (and a possible fifth) who could really improve the Newcastle side.

1) Islam Slimani – Leicester

This striker has not done well at Leicester but the Algerian has class and Rafa can get the best out of him. Slimani will be an improvement on what we have at the moment. The 27-year-old could come in on loan with an option to buy in the summer. We are supposed to be the favorites to sign him next month.

2) Kenedy – Chelsea

We may have to wait again for the 21-year-old left-sided player who was impressive when he played left-back for Chelsea when Guus Hiddink was the manager in the first half of last year. We almost got him in late August on loan but Antonio Conte couldn’t get a replacement in and the deal was off. He also has speed and skill and could help in the fast breakaways that Rafa is working on in training and paid off with two goals at West Ham.

3) Danny Ings – Liverpool

Newcastle have been after this lad for a long time, and the latest news is that Rafa has been talking to Liverpool officials about bringing Ings to Newcastle. It will probably be on loan, but there were stories Rafa was willing to buy him if he showed he was fully fit from his two ACL knee injuries of the last two years. Maybe bring him in on loan with an option to buy in the summer?

4) Andreas Samaris – Benfica

We need some strengthening in central midfield even though Henri Saivet and Mo Diame played well on Saturday in the 3-2 win at West Ham.Rafa wanted Andreas Samaris in the summer, and it seems Benfica could lower their price from £17M so Rafa could buy him next month. He could again maybe bring him in on loan next month with an option to buy. But if Rafa does get some substantial funds next month he will want to buy some players on a permanent as he wants the team a lot stronger for next season.

Finally, with Arsenal’s Jack Wilshire starting to look good for Arsenal and likely becoming a free agent in the summer, maybe we can make an audacious move and take him on loan next month and try to buy him in the summer if he does well.

It’s worth a try because Jack can provide the class and creativity we need in midfield, and he needs playing time if he is to make the England squad for the World Cup in Russia next summer.

36 comments so far

He know precisely what is available and the targets will have been spoken to already. When the public see a pic of a new signing holding the black and white shirt,first contact will have been made weeks (possibly months) before.

Interesting read jib. Big difference between u23’s and the epl, against Bristol even, but shows there is talent there with Ings. We have been interested in ings for years now it seems, for whatever reason it hasn’t happened. Carver, Ashley, mclaren, pardew, many reasons. Is a previously injured player worth the risk? Sometimes yes. Maybe on loan he word be worth a try to reduce the risk to nufc being stuck with a crocked player, and get rid at the first sign of a recurring injury.

Have a great Christmas everyone. Lets hope we get some of the rumoured names through the door and the sooner the better as Rafa has stated. I think, given Jack Wilshires recent form he won,t be leaving Arsenal.

Ings injuries would be a concern, but if he’s one of two that come in I’d take that.

But you’re right, Raffa will have everything in place and I expect our business to be done quickly so we can get on with turning around this season and secure our survival and then all wave goodbye to Ashley

The positivity this take-over has engendered on Tyneside and anywhere in the world there is support (apart from this blog at match-time) is fantastic. If the stuff said in the last 2 months on all forms of media hasn’t shown Ashley what an opportunity he blew, there’s no hope for him I’m afraid.

I hope we will get better than Ings, and that is Batshuayi or Sturridge. Batshuayi would be perfect, has everything, pace, strenght, tachnique and know where the goal is. Then we need ideally Wilshere or someone of that mould. Then we need new goalkeeper big, strong with good distribution. These three are crucial, then winger and no.10 and maybee left back

Merry Christmas all. According to sky Brighton have an 18 million bid accepted for dembele. Every club big or small tries to be the best it can be and then theres what we do. Here’s to an ashley free new year.

I remember a day when we nearly signed Austin but Ashley said he was to expensive, wow doesn’t that now bite him in the ASS. We should have got that kid over two years ago, he’s banging in the goals against all the clubs. Ings would be a upgrade on what we have but yes, only if we can keep him fit. I still think we should look at Walcott, he isn’t getting game time and with the world cup around the corner he needs to play regularly. Here are the player who’s contract are up summer 2018. Alexis Sánchez , Mesut Özil, Ander Herrera, Juan Mata, Ross Barkley, Daley Blind, Emre Can, Luke Shaw, Fernandinho, Jack Wilshere, Yohan Cabaye, Marouane Fellaini, Santi Cazorla, Diafra Sakho, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Yaya Touré, Sung-Yong Ki, James McArthur, Bakary Sako, Robert Huth, Joel Ward, Ashley Young, Joel Robles, James Morrison, Aaron Lennon, James Morrison, Chris Brunt, Wayne Hennessey, Claudio Yacob, Jérémy Pied, Miguel Britos, Charlie Adam, Martin Kelly, Scott Arfield, Florin Gardos, Marc Pugh, José Holebas, James Collins, Michael Carrick, Gaëtan Bong, Stephen Ward, Uwe Hünemeier. I’m not saying sign we can sign or to even sign any off these but surely there are some on this list we could get on loan that will help us stay in the premiership. There are some that would walk into our team, only thing is how much and which ones would come for Rafa and the Fans.

Where is Ashley this Christmas ? No doubt throwing cash at some seedy casino in Las Vegas eating cheesy chips, drinking bottles of cheap ale and looking longingly at the fireplace in the corner

Meanwhile

Where is Amanda this Christmas ? No doubt lounging on some sun kissed beach, sipping Piña Coladas, leaving generous tips for the locals and looking a million dollars. Whitley Bay hasn’t seen the like for a long time.

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health update

I was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer in February 2017 and completed four months of chemotherapy in late July and will continue to have hormone treatment.

The cancer spread in the bones but it has been stabilized and has not spread further.

I am still recovering from some of the side effects of the chemo treatment - it's mainly severe fatigue and exhaustion.

Stage 4 cancer is not curable so I will continue to have cat scans and bone scans every four months to ensure the cancer is not spreading.

It is as it is - these things happen - and I will do my very best under the circumstances.

Ed Harrison

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